Patent GB-1295627-A (GB)
IPC: G07B15/00
Filed: 1970-03-10
Abstract: 1295627 Reservation system BURROUGHS CORP 10 March 1970 [21 March 1969] 11348/70 Headings G4A and G4T In a reservation check-in system, information concerning a reservation of accommodation is stored in a data processing system 20 (Fig. 1) in combination with an identifying code number, and access to the reserved accommodation is controlled by automatic check-in means 92, 94, 25 that compares a presented code number with a file of code numbers stored in the data processing system 20, and allows access to the accommodation if the presented code number corresponds with one in the stored file. As described for reservations for an airline flight, in a first embodiment a prospective passenger notifies a city ticket agent at an agent set 46, 48 or an airport agent 84 of the reservation required. Through a multiplexor 44 the agent communicates with a central processor 30 to interrogate a central data store 25. The data store 25 notifies the agent of availability and stores the passenger's name in combination with an identifying code number and status of the reservation, in a flight file in association with the flight capacity, tariffs and fare tables. The passenger is issued by a printer 42 with a ticket bearing the identifying code number that is either preprinted on the ticket, selected from a list, or fed from the central processor 30. The ticket code number is machine-readable optically or magnetically, and is stored in the memory of the control data store 25, or alternatively forms the address of the reservation storage space. A single ticket may be supplied for a multisegment journey (Fig. 5, not reproduced) or a booklet of tickets, one for each segment of the journey (Fig. 4, not reproduced). Bookings may also be made with the central processor 30 (Fig. 1) by other airline offices through a connection OAL. At a preselected time before the flight, or when storage space is available, the flight file data is transferred from the central data store 25 to a local store 64 at an airport terminal 80. Immediately before the flight, tickets can be bought at the terminal 80 from an agent 84, or at a self ticketing apparatus 86 on presentation of a credit card; availability is notified by the local store 64. The data stored in the central store 25 or local store 64 can be updated re. cancellation &c. by the central processor 30 and a terminal controller 62, or by a local processor 66. Check-in.-When the passenger wishes to board the plane, his reservation is "checked-in" by a boarding agent station 92 that reads and sends the ricket code number to the local store 64 for cross-checking with the filed code numbers, and then allows boarding or issues a boarding pass that will free a turnstile 94. The checkin operation is illustrated in Fig. 11. In a second embodiment (Fig. 2, not reproduced) reservations may be made without the use of tickets. The reservation identifying code number is taken as a credit card or bank account number, and can be read by a credit card reader (132) or transmitted by a teleprinter (166). A central processor (190) updates the account balance when a credit card is employed, and a cheque reader (186) credits payments into the account. The data processor (190) may perform fee and tariff calculations, and periodically check the stored reservations for expired ticket- or-confirmation time limits. The reservation check-in-system described may be used in conjunction with travel, touring, hotel, auditorium or cargo bookings. U.S.A. Specifications 3,539,998 and 3,564,509 are referred to.